A Selfless Soldier - Social Film by Hira Mehta

A film made by Hira Mehta a official entry 2 minute short film for #YESiamtheCHANGE  with support of Amritraj Esakkiappan and Drishti Mishra,  about a lone soldier, Philanthropist, Sailesh Mishra , Founder of Silver Innings and A1 Snehanjali , Mumbai city first  24 x 7 assisted living elder care home, and winner of Karamveer Award 2008 working in the field of #Dementia and #Alzheimer for many years committed to spreading the message of “loving care for elders” among the youngsters. Sailesh Mishra shares about the disease that many are unaware about and moreover have no idea where to go for help.

Improving Quality of Life of People with Dementia

Meaning of quality of life differs from person to person for some it may be playing guitar for another it may be enjoying traveling to exotic locations or spending quality time in front of beach.  Social relationships, cultural values, financial conditions, physical and mental health are the different factors which defines each person’s quality of life. Despite changes and loss of abilities, people with dementia can still find happiness and experience satisfaction.

Picture courtesy: Silver innings 2015

Caregivers who take care of people with dementia should understand that they enjoy some types of activities and also like to do useful things. Caregivers should add creative, meaningful and fun-filled activities and encourage people with dementia to enjoy what they can still do. With appropriate environment, they can lead productive, happier and satisfying life and are less likely to show disturbed behaviour.

Include Fun-Filled & Meaningful Activities

The idea behind including fun-filled activities is to have fun, don’t force them to be perfect or follow complex set of rules. Do not point out mistakes or seize control of what they are doing. Support them, but do not push them. While selecting an activity, ensure that it is something they will like to do. They may enjoy painting and playing games such as Snakes & Ladders or stacking colored rings.

Person with dementia might feel insignificant and useless due to their reduced abilities as compared to their active life in the past. Explore activities that can make them feel positive and good about themselves. They may lose interest in midway while performing any task or perform the activity at slow pace. Do not except them to do it faster or push them to complete the task. The idea behind this activity is to make them feel useful and happy.

Provide a Relaxed & Safe Environment

Each person finds relaxation in different things depending on their character, likes & dislikes. Some may like listening bhajans, while some might like aromatherapy or some may like spending time with pets for their unconditional love.

Use different types of reality orientation techniques, which can help in reducing confusion among the persons with dementia about the time. Have a suitable communication so that you can understand them and they can understand you. Ensure that they should not get frustrated due to any kind of excess help or changing their daily routine. Provide them with exact amount of help they require, so that they feel capable and independent.

To conclude, people with dementia can still find happiness and experience satisfaction, if we include fun-filled & meaningful activities in their daily routine as well as strive to provide a relaxed and safe environment to them.

Ravi Shet is the writer of this article and Co-founder of www.treatum.com, an online healthcare portal connecting patients with right doctors.

World Alzheimer's Month Mumbai Sep 2016 Events

Silver Inning Foundation in association with Sophia college, Pushpama Foundation, Eisai pharma, Nirmala Niketan college of social work, L. S Raheja college, SVT college (SNDT), Nana Nani Foundation, Helpage India, Treatum, Sneha kala kendra, Money life Foundation, PrideAge, Silver innings Helpline, Silver innings FC, Purple Angel, Palliative care dept. Bhaktivedant hospital, Mind consultant, Elders camp, 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline and A1 Snehanjali Invite you for 5th International World Alzheimer's month programme.

September 2016 is the Fifth global World Alzheimer’s Month™, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma.

The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2016 is Remember Me. We're encouraging people all around the world to learn to spot the signs of dementia, but also not to forget about loved ones who are living with dementia, or those who may have passed away. 

The impact of September’s campaign is growing, but the stigmatisation and misinformation that surrounds dementia remains a global problem.

This events are FREE and Open for Family members, Students, Counselors, Medical and Social Work Professionals, Person suffering with Dementia / Alzheimer's, Senior Citizens & Interested individuals, with Prior Registration ONLY. 

Tentative Schedule

SIFC, Silver Innings FC Football Team of youth have dedicated this Year 2016-17 for World Alzheimer's Month for MDFA Tournament 

Fri 2nd Sep: Awareness Talk for Staff, Volunteers, Health Forum Members of Palliative Care Dept at Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mira Road. Time 11am to 1pm. Only for Invitees. RSVP Mr. Prashob 9619909901

Wed 14th  Sep :  A Special Awareness Program for the Senior Citizens & Their Family Members from 4 pm to 7 pm at Auditorium, Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute, Mira Road, in collaboration with Department of Spiritual Care. RSVP Mr. Yateen Sawant 022- 30052577 / 9969617221

Wed 21st Sep : Walkathon - Memory Walk at Dada Dadi Park, Veer Sawarkar Udyan, L .T. Road, Pushpa Ma Foundation, Borivali west - 5pm to 7pm.  OPEN FOR PUBLIC RSVP Mr. Jimmy Dordi 9321020723 and Silver Innings  9987104233 / 9029000091 

Wed 21st Sep: Talk on ‘Missing Persons: what can you do when someone you know goes missing’ at Money Life Foundation. Registration: 4:30pm. Session Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Venue: Eknath Thakur Hall, 1st floor, at Saraswat Bank Head Office, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi, Dadar, Mumbai 400 025.  OPEN FOR PUBLIC RSVP: Shilpa at 022-49205000 or Email foundation@moneylife.in 

Thu 22nd Sep: Awareness Talk for Students at L.S. RAHEJA College, Juhu west. 9am to 10.30am  Only for Invitees

Fri 23rd Sep: Talk on Ageing and Dementia to Senior Citizen Students at 2pm to 5pm at Extension Centre, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Goregaon East. Only for Invitees 

Wed 28th Sep: Awareness Talk for Students at Sophia college. 1.30pm to 3.30 pm Only for Invitees 

Fri 30th Sep: 'Bheja Fry', Because You Can Not Afford To Forget" a SIMPLE Memory Enhancement Technique at SVT college, Juhu  at 2pm to 4pm. OPEN FOR PUBLIC RSVP Silver Innings  9987104233 / 9029000091    

For more information you can call: 9987104233 / 9029000091 / 9323919145 ( Mon to Fri - 11am to 5pm) or Email us at silverinnings@gmail.com  

Please Note the event, date and time are subject to change.

#RememberME

#WAM2016

#WRAD2017 

Dementia in India – What does it look like in other countries? Sailesh Mishra at Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio

Dear Friends, It  was honor to have been featured at Global Renowned and Esteem Alzheimer's Speaks Radio of Lori La Bey ' ‪#‎Dementia‬ In ‪#‎India‬ – Does It Look Like Other Countries? ' on 10th May 2016. 

https://www.spreaker.com/user/sbarnard4/dementia-in-india-what-does-it-look-like_1

Today we are lucky to have Sailesh-Mishra from India with us. Sailesh is Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Silver innings® a community dedicated to Senior Citizens in India and A1 Snehanjali, Assisted Living Elder Care Home. Listen and learn what dementia care looks like in India.

Listen to wonderful interview of Sailesh Mishra: Silver Innings with  Lori La Bey   Alzheimer’s Speaks:Dementia in India – What does it look like in other countries? Sailesh Mishra

Contact Information For Sailesh-Mishra:
Email: silverinnings@gmail.com / a1snehanjali@gmail.com 
Call: 91+ 9987104233 / 91+ 9323919145 
Website: www.silverinnings.com ; www.a1snehanjali.com 

Additional Resource Information:
Alzheimer’s Speaks Resource Website: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/
Keynote Speaker: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/event-planners
Join The Purple Angel Project: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/purple-angel-project
Check out Audible www.audibletrial.com/SOCIAL
Check out Fresh Books www.gofreshbooks.com/alive

Video: Heart Remembers But Mind Forgets #WAM2O15

Video Release by Silver Inning Foundation for World Alzheimer's Month September 2015, ‪#‎WAM2015‬ : 'Heart Remembers But Mind Forgets'  

This Video is part of 1st in series, made by Students of TISS ( Center for Health and Mental Health School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India) for Silver Inning Foundation (NGO Working with ‪#‎SeniorCitizens‬) as part of project for World Alzheimer's Month September 2015, #WAM2015 ‪#‎RememberMe‬ ‪#‎SilverInnings‬

Its small effort through audio visual aids by young students to create awareness about a non curable, progressive brain disease #Alzheimer's / ‪#‎Dementia, which mostly affects elders of 60 years and above. We request you to not only watch this video but also forward and show this to all members of your family and community.

#ARDSI #Mumbai #India #A1Snehanjali #TISS #SeniorCitizens

World Alzheimer's Awareness Month September 2015 Events – Greater Mumbai Programme

Remember Those Who Cant Remember

World Alzheimer's Awareness Month 2015 – Greater Mumbai Programme

Theme for World Alzheimer's Month™ 2015:  Remember Me

On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st Sep 2015 Silver Inning Foundation and ARDSI Greater Mumbai chapter in association with Sophia College, Pushpa Ma Foundation, Eisai Pharma, The Metrognome, TISS, Nirmala Niketan College of Social work, Silver Innings Helpline, Nair Hospital Occupational Therapist(OT)Dept , Bhaktivedanta Palliative Care and ‘A1 Snehanjali’ assisted living elder care home, Invites you for #WAM 2015 International World Alzheimer's Month Programme, to create awareness about Dementia and Alzheimer’s in city of Mumbai and nearby area. 

September 2015 is the fourth global World Alzheimer’s Month™, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma.

The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2015 is Remember Me. We're encouraging people all around the world to learn to spot the signs of dementia, but also not to forget about loved ones who are living with dementia, or those who may have passed away.

The impact of September’s campaign is growing, but the stigmatisation and misinformation that surrounds dementia remains a global problem.

This event is FREE and Open for Family members, Students, Counselors, Medical and Social Work Professionals, Person suffering with Dementia / Alzheimer’s, Senior Citizens & Interested individuals, with Prior Registration ONLY.

Tentative schedule: 

Every Week a Awareness Video made by TISS Students will be released on Youtube

Wed 9th Sep : Talk with Students by Ms. Mona at St. Joseph College, Nalasopara west - 9.30am to 10.30am

Fri 11th Sep : Talk by Sailesh Mishra at GERON National conference at Varodara

Mon 14th Sep : Talk for Students by Sailesh Mishra, Sophia College, Warden Road, Mumbai

Mon 14th , Tue 15th and Wed 16th Sep : Memory Camp by Eisai Phrama at Dada Dadi Park, Veer Sawarkar Udyan, L .T. Road, Pushpa Ma Foundation, Borivali west - 5pm to 7pm and 
Talk by Shilpa Chandawarkar (Caregiver)

Today 21st Sep World Alzheimer's Day, Silver Innings FC ‪#‎Youth‬ ‪#‎Football‬ Team Dedicates its Win and Pledges its Support to People Suffering with ‪#‎Alzheimer‬'s ‪#‎Dementia‬ and their Family members. 

Tues 22nd - Walkathon - Memory Walk at Dada Dadi Park, Veer Sawarkar Udyan, L .T. Road, Pushpa Ma Foundation, Borivali west - 5pm to 7pm AND Talk by Shilpa Chandawarkar (Caregiver)

Tues 22nd : Talk with Senior Citizens Resident and Caregivers of A1 Snehanjali , by Dr. Suresh Patil (Psychiatrist) Nalasopara west

24th Sep Thanks to ‪#‎Bollywood‬ Superstar ‪#‎VivekOberoi‬ for supporting World Alzheimer's Month September 2015 Program!
‪

Fri 25th Sep YWCA Elder Women Awareness Event With Fun and Games: 2pm to 4pm at Chacha Nehru Park, Model Town, Near RTO Bus Stop, Andheri West in association with YWCA and Nair Hospital Occupational Therapist(OT)Dept

Sat 26th Sep 2015 Awareness session for Students of Royal College of Science, Arts and Commerce, Mira Road By Dr. Vineeta Sharma and Team of Bhaktivedanta Palliative Care 

Mon 28th Sep “Alzheimer's Awareness For Students” at 10am to 11.30am at St. Joseph Junior College, Nandakal, ‪#‎Nalasopara‬ west By ‪#‎TISS‬ MSW Students

Wed 30th Sep “Alzheimer's Awareness For ‪#‎Seniorcitizens‬ ” at 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Nanbhat Church Senior Citizens Group, Nanbhat Church, ‪#‎Nalasopara‬ west By Mona Mishra and Jenet Faras

For more information you can call –

 9987104233 / 9029000091 / 9323919145 ( Mon to Fri - 11am to 5pm) or

Email us at silverinnings@gmail.com

#RememberMe #India #Mumbai #ARDSI #SilverInnings #Dementia #Alzheimer's #A1Snehanjali 

Please Note the event, date and time are subject to change.

World Alzheimer’s Day: Patients, their families struggle due to lack of facilities

By Riddhi Doshi, Hindustan Times  New Delhi, September 21, 2014 

Every day, Maya Sahadevan has to beg and plead to get her mother into the bathroom for her morning bath. "When she does go in, she just sits there, staring at the ceiling, and often walks out without having had a bath," says Maya, 40, a private tutor in Mumbai.

It may not seem like much, but for Maya, the daily battle over the bath is a sign of further deterioration as her 69-year-old mother slips deeper into her dementia, her personality changing, her memories fading, and simple everyday tasks becoming insurmountable hurdles. 

Maya’s mother was diagnosed with dementia four years ago. "Our first clue that something was wrong was in 2012, when she started saying the same thing again and again," she says. Maya took her to a psychiatrist, where she was diagnosed with dementia. She now spends most of the day sleeping, or staring.

"We stay home with her all the time," says Maya. "It’s hard to juggle housework, my afternoon tutorial classes, and also try and care for her." Lately, the Sahadevans have been looking for help, but it’s been a frustrating search.

Dementia — an umbrella term for a wide range of degenerative mental conditions, the most commonly known being Alzheimer’s — causes long-term loss of the ability to think and reason. Patients need constant supervision, and specialised care. Even in megalopolises like Mumbai and Delhi, such care is almost impossible to find.

"Ideally, a person with dementia should have access to trained caregivers who understand the disease and its patients’ behaviour. This is hard to find in India," says Mona Mishra, a counsellor at dementia care home A1 Snehanjali

In Mumbai, for instance, there is just one day care centre for senior citizens with dementia, run by the Dignity Foundation. And there are just two residencies — A1 Snehanjali in Nallasopara, which can accommodate 13 people, and Dignity Lifestyle, which can accommodate 24. 

Delhi has one day-care centre and one home. "We currently just have four facilities across the country — two in Mumbai, one in Kochi and one in Bangalore. That is far too low," says Mona. "More needs to be done by NGOs and the government, to spread awareness about dementia and provide affordable care infrastructure."

There is little support for the families of those with dementia either.

Alzheimer's: Four signs to watch out for

"We need more awareness camps to help family members understand the disease and learn how to care for their loved ones. The importance of such awareness cannot be overemphasised," says Sailesh Mishra, founder and director of Silver Inning Foundation, an NGO that works with senior citizen and runs the A1 Snehanjali dementia residency home.

"This becomes especially important in a country like ours, where there are not nearly enough residencies and where the cost of those that do exist is also not affordable to all."

At Sea:
According to the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), nearly 3.7 million people in India suffer from dementia — a number that is set to double every 15 years.  "The disease is not curable, but certain lifestyle modifications like engaging in physical activities and cognitive tasks; eating right; socialising and managing stress can delay onset of the disease," says Dr Manjari Tripathi, president of the Delhi chapter of ARDSI.

Poor awareness and the stigma that still attaches to mental disease adds to the problem, says Alka Subramanyam, assistant professor of psychiatry at Mumbai’s government-run Nair hospital, which runs a memory clinic that offers testing and offers counselling to patients and their families. "We definitely need more care infrastructure. The lack of it accounts to a great loss, either direct or indirect, to caregivers."

With little to no infrastructure available, caregivers suffer almost as much as the patients, says Sailesh. "It is hard enough to cope with the fact that a loved one is no longer in control of themselves. It is even harder to then try and care for that person by yourself, while also juggling the demands of children and earning a livelihood."

Even those lucky enough to find full-time care must find a way to pay for it — an average of Rs. 45,000 a month. A residency charges Rs. 30,000 a month, excluding the cost of medicines. In the absence of a residency slot, a trained caregiver costs Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000 per eight-hour shift.

"A few Facebook pages are trying to spreading awareness and share information and tips on dealing with dementia in loved ones," adds Mishra. "But it remains a lonely struggle."

The Sahadevans from Mumbai are currently in the midst of that lonely struggle. "We considered leaving my mother at a day care centre for seniors with dementia, but haven’t yet been able to find a slot in the city," says Maya. "We are so confused; we don’t know where to go or what to do and it’s not just taking a toll on us, but also on Ma."

(With inputs from Rhythma Kaul)

Courtesy:  http://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/wellness/world-alzheimer-s-day-lack-of-help-care-in-india-for-patients/article1-1266659.aspx

World Alzheimer Report 2014

World Alzheimer Report 2014 Reveals Persuasive Evidence For Dementia Risk Reduction

Dementia risk for populations can be modified through tobacco control and better prevention, detection and control of hypertension and diabetes.

 

The World Alzheimer Report 2014 ‘Dementia and Risk Reduction: An analysis of protective and modifiable factors’, released today, calls for dementia to be integrated into both global and national public health programmes alongside other major non communicable diseases (NCDs).

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) commissioned a team of researchers, led by Professor Martin Prince from King’s College London, to produce the report. ADI is publishing this report, in conjunction with World Alzheimer's Day™ (21 September) and as a part of World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma.

The report reveals that control of diabetes and high blood pressure as well as measures to encourage smoking cessation and to reduce cardiovascular risk, have the potential to reduce the risk of dementia even in late-life. The report found that diabetes can increase the risk of dementia by 50%. Obesity and lack of physical activity are important risk factors for diabetes and hypertension, and should, therefore, also be targeted.

While cardiovascular health is improving in many high income countries, many low and middle income countries show a recent pattern of increasing exposure to cardiovascular risk factors, with rising rates of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Smoking cessation is strongly linked in the report with a reduction in dementia risk. For example, studies of dementia incidence among people aged 65 years and over show that ex-smokers have a similar risk to those who have never smoked, while those who continue to smoke are at much higher risk.

Furthermore, the study revealed that those who have had better educational opportunities have a lower risk of dementia in late-life. Evidence suggests that education has no impact on the brain changes that lead to dementia, but reduces their impact on intellectual functioning.

The evidence in the report suggest that if we enter old age with better developed, healthier brains we are likely to live longer, happier and more independent lives, with a much reduced chance of developing dementia. Brain health promotion is important across the life span, but particularly in mid-life, as changes in the brain can begin decades before symptoms appear.

The study also urges NCD programs to be more inclusive of older people, with the message that it’s never too late to make a change, as the future course of the global dementia epidemic is likely to depend crucially upon the success or failure of efforts to improve global public health, across the population. Combining efforts to tackle the increasing global burden of NCDs will be strategically important, efficient and cost effective. Leading a healthier lifestyle is a positive step towards preventing a range of long-term diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

However, survey data released by Bupa* has shown that many people are unclear about the causes and actions they can take to potentially reduce their risk of dementia. Just over a sixth (17%) of people realised that social interaction with friends and family could impact on the risk. Only a quarter (25%) identified being overweight as a possible factor, and only one in five (23%) said physical activity could affect the risk of developing dementia and losing their memories. The survey also revealed that over two thirds (68%) of people surveyed around the world are concerned about getting dementia in later life.

Professor Martin Prince, from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and author of the report, commented: “There is already evidence from several studies that the incidence of dementia may be falling in high income countries, linked to improvements in education and cardiovascular health. We need to do all we can to accentuate these trends. With a global cost of over US$ 600 billion, the stakes could hardly be higher.”

Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International said: “From a public health perspective, it is important to note that most of the risk factors for dementia overlap with those for the other major non communicable diseases (NCDs). In high income countries, there is an increased focus on healthier lifestyles, but this is not always the case with lower and middle income countries. By 2050, we estimate that 71% of people living with dementia will live in these regions, so implementing effective public health campaigns may help to reduce the global risk.”

Professor Graham Stokes, Global Director of Dementia Care, Bupa, said: “While age and genetics are part of the disease’s risk factors, not smoking, eating more healthily, getting some exercise, and having a good education, coupled with challenging your brain to ensure it is kept active, can all play a part in minimising your chances of developing dementia. People who already have dementia, or signs of it, can also do these things, which may help to slow the progression of the disease.”

The full report can be found here: www.alz.co.uk/worldreport2014

About Alzheimer’s Disease International
ADI is the international federation of 84 Alzheimer associations around the world, in official relations with the World Health Organization. ADI's vision is an improved quality of life for people with dementia and their families throughout the world. ADI believes that the key to winning the fight against dementia lies in a unique combination of global solutions and local knowledge. As such, it works locally, by empowering Alzheimer associations to promote and offer care and support for people with dementia and their carers, while working globally to focus attention on dementia and campaign for policy change from governments. For more information, visit www.alz.co.uk


About King’s College London
King's College London is one of the top 20 universities in the world (2013/14 QS World University Rankings) and the fourth oldest in England. It is The Sunday Times 'Best University for Graduate Employment 2012/13'. King's has nearly 26,000 students (of whom more than 10,600 are graduate students) from some 140 countries worldwide, and more than 7,000 staff. The College is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £590 million. www.kcl.ac.uk


About Bupa
Bupa’s purpose is longer, healthier, happier lives.
As a leading international healthcare group, we offer health insurance and medical subscription products, run care homes, retirement villages, hospitals, primary care centres and dental clinics. We also provide workplace health services, home healthcare, health assessments and long-term condition management services.
We have over 22 million customers in 190 countries. With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare and fulfil our purpose.
We employ more than 70,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Poland, New Zealand and Chile, as well as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, and the USA.
Bupa is the largest international provider of specialist dementia care, caring for more than 24,000 residents with dementia. For more information, visit www.bupa.com

Courtesy: http://www.alz.co.uk/media/140917